Aloe x haworthia hybrid plant named &#39;Amial 1601&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aloe aristata  x  Haworthia limifolia  hybrid plant named ‘AMIAL1601’, which is characterized by long, broad and thick succulent foliage, foliage arranged in multiple whorls which, together, create a tall rosette, and dark green foliage with very light green orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aloe aristata xHaworthia limifolia.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Aloe x Haworthia hybrid disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination ‘AMIAL1601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIAL1601’ is an intergeneric hybrid seedling selectionresulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Aloe aristataplant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Haworthialimifolia plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was madeby the inventor in the spring of 2011 at a commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2013, one seedling wasobserved which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics.After confirming the stability of the unique characteristics firstobserved, the new plant was selected for commercialization and given thename, ‘AMIAL1601’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIAL1601’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in thesummer of 2014 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard,the Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagatedby way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through fivesubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIAL1601’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIAL1601’ as a new and distinct Aloe x Haworthia hybridcultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits succulent foliage arranged in multiple        whorls which, together, create a tall rosette; and    -   2. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits inner whorls of foliage held upright and        outer whorls of foliage held more loosely; and    -   3. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits long, broad and thick foliage with an        ovate shape; and    -   4. ‘AMIAL1601’ exhibits dark green foliage with very light green        orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy transverse        rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIAL1601’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 14 months old, shown planted ina 10 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIAL1601.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIAL1601’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIAL1601’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2017describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 14 months old‘AMIAL1601’ plants grown in 10 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe and Haworthiaplants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizerapplications, and chemical pest and disease control measures againstmealy bug, Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately50 percent shade and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light wasgiven to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIAL1601’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIAL1601’ and a comparison with the parentsand closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—10.1 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.9 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings and meristematic tissue            culture. Time to initiate rooting — Approximately 20 days at            18 degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 30 weeks to            produce a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe and Haworthia            pests and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette comprised of multiple whorls of            foliage.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 5 leaves per whorl and a total of 22            leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves; ovate in shape.        -   Dimensions.—9.0 cm long, 3.4 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concaved and lightly curved downward at an            average angle of 40 degrees to horizontal.        -   Attitude.—Inner whorls of foliage are upright; outer whorls            of foliage are held more loosely.        -   Apex.—Apiculate, with a soft mucronate tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of 0.1            cm and are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192D.            Margins are not undulated or lobed.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately to densely            covered with orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular,            wavy transverse rows across the leaf surface; protuberances            grown into short, soft spines towards the apex,            approximately 3.0 mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with            orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular, wavy            transverse rows across the leaf surface; protuberances grown            into short, soft spines towards the apex, approximately 3.0            mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Very slightly glossy.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 143A; fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest            to RHS 146B; darker towards the apex, nearest to a mixture            of RHS NN137A and NN137B; protuberances are colored            greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 193C and 193D.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of            green and yellow-green, nearest to RHS 143A and 146A; fading            to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS N144D;            darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS NN137A;            protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture            of RHS 193C and 193D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — In            between yellow-green, RHS 147A, and greyed-green, RHS N189A;            lighter greyed-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 194B;            protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture            of RHS 191B, 191C, and 191D. Mature foliage, abaxial surface            — In between green, RHS 139A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A;            fading to a mixture of yellow-green and greyed-green towards            the base, nearest to RHS 146A and 194B; protuberances are            colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 191B and            191C.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Aloe aristata (not patented), in the following characteristicsdescribed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Aloe aristata Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ seed parent Plantheight. Taller than the parent. Shorter than ‘AMIAL1601’. Quantity ofApproximately Approximately leaves per 5 leaves. 10 leaves. whorl offoliage. Leaf size. Leaves are longer Leaves are shorter and broaderthan and narrower than those of the parent. those of ‘AMIAL1601’. Leafthickness. Leaves are thicker Leaves are thinner than those of the thanthose of parent. ‘AMIAL1601’. Leaf firmness. Firmer than those Less firmthan those of the parent. of ‘AMIAL1601’. Leaf protuberances.Protuberances Protuberances are less arranged in irregular, conspicuous.wavy transverse rows.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the pollen parent, anunnamed Haworthia limifolia plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Haworthia limifolia Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ pollen parentQuantity of leaves per Approximately 5 Approximately 7 to whorl offoliage. leaves. 15 leaves. Leaf size. Larger than those of Smaller thanthose of the parent. ‘AMIAL1601’. Foliage margins. Finely dentate withFinely dentate with larger teeth than much smaller teeth those of theparent. than those of ‘AMIAL1601’. General coloration Very light green.Green; same color of the foliar as the leaf surface. protuberances. Leafprotuberances. Protuberances Protuberances are less arranged inirregular, conspicuous. wavy transverse rows.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1601’ differ from the commercialvariety, Gasteria ‘WT03’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number30451) in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1601’ ‘WT03’ Foliage attitude. Inner whorlsof foliage Foliage in all whorls are held upright; outer is held veryupright. whorls are held more loosely. Abundance of Less abundant. Moreabundant. foliage. Foliage margins. Finely dentate with Finely dentatewith larger teeth than smaller teeth than those of ‘WT03’. those of‘AMIAL1601’. General coloration Green. Dark greyed-green. of the maturefoliage.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe aristatax Haworthia limifolia plant named ‘AMIAL1601’, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.